Illinois town sponsors Route 66 sign project

ATLANTA – The small central Illinois community of Atlanta is sponsoring a Route 66 art project.

The Atlanta Betterment Fund is encouraging artists to create or decorate their own U.S. Route 66 highway shield. The 2-foot-by-2-foot wooden cutouts will be displayed around the city. The only requirement is that the sign somewhere say "Illinois U.S. 66."

Officials say the effort was inspired by Chicago's "Cows on Parade" exhibit. Artists decorated fiberglass cows that were displayed in downtown Chicago.

Atlanta Betterment Fund member Dale Colaw tells The Pantagraph newspaper in Bloomington that the project is a good way to attract visitors. City leaders will accept up to 50 entries. The signs will be displayed from May through August.